Digging for Spiritual Gems – February 17-23
GENESIS 18-19
Ge 18:1, 22—How was it that “Jehovah appeared to” Abraham and “remained with” him? (w88 5/15 23 ¶4-5)
Now it is possible to understand why Abraham addressed the materialized angelic spokesman of God as if he were talking to Jehovah God himself. Since this angel spoke precisely what God wanted to have said to Abraham and was there personally representing Him, the Biblical record could say that “Jehovah appeared to him.”—Genesis 18:1.
Remember that an angelic spokesman for God could transmit His messages just as precisely as a telephone or a radio can transmit our words to another person. Hence, it can be understood how Abraham, Moses, Manoah, and others could speak with a materialized angel as if they were talking to God. While such individuals were able to see these angels and the glory of Jehovah reflected by them, they were not able to see God. Therefore, this in no way contradicts the apostle John’s statement: “No man has seen God at any time.” (John 1:18) What these men saw were angelic representatives and not God himself.
3 Lot made a bad decision when he chose to live among the grossly immoral people of Sodom. (Read 2 Peter 2:7, 8.) The region was prosperous, but Lot paid a high price for moving to Sodom. (Gen. 13:8-13; 14:12) His wife apparently became so attached to the city or to some of the people living there that she disobeyed Jehovah. She lost her life when God rained fire and sulfur on the region. And think of Lot’s two daughters. They were engaged to men who died in Sodom. Lot lost his home, his possessions and, most painful of all, his wife. (Gen. 19:12-14, 17, 26) During this stressful period, did Jehovah lose patience with Lot? No.
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?
Genesis 19:16
To save Lot, Jehovah sent angels to warn him that the cities were going to be destroyed and that he and his family had to flee. “When he continued to delay,” the angels grabbed “his hand and his wife’s hand and the hands of his two daughters and proceeded to take him out and place him outside the city.” This case teaches us that Jehovah knows very well the difficulties that his faithful servants face.
Genesis 18: 23-33
Jehovah does not destroy people indiscriminately, but protects the upright. We learn that he does not let himself be carried away by anger but that he is patient and gives time to the wicked to change, but he will bring the end for justice to his faithful servants.
Genesis 19:16
Lot “continued to delay”, and the angels almost had to drag him and his family out of Sodom. We do well not to lose our sense of urgency while waiting for the end of the bad world.
Genesis 19:26
It is totally foolish to yearn for what we have left behind in the world or to be distracted by it. That is why we never look back, like lamenting what we have left, or perhaps opportunities in this wicked world.
Genesis 19: 8
Wasn’t it wrong that Lot offered his daughters to the inhabitants of Sodom? According to Eastern ethics, it was the responsibility of the host to protect and defend guests even with life, if necessary. And Lot was willing to do it. With courage he left, closed the door behind him and appeared alone before the crowd. By the time Lot offered his daughters, he probably already knew that his guests were messengers of God and, therefore, he thought that God could take care of protecting them just as he protected his aunt Sarah in Egypt (Genesis 12: 17-20). And so it was, both Lot and his daughters received protection.
Genesis 19: 30-38
Did Jehovah approve of Lot getting drunk and begetting offspring with his two daughters? Jehovah does not approve of incest or drunkenness (Leviticus 18: 6, 7, 29; 1 Corinthians 6: 9, 10). Lot actually deplored the “wild facts” of the inhabitants of Sodom (2 Peter 2: 6-8). The fact that his daughters got him drunk indicates that they knew that his father would not consent to having sex with them while he was sober. But being foreigners in the country, his daughters thought that this was the only way to prevent Lot’s family from becoming extinct. The story is in the Bible to reveal the relationship between the Moabites (through Moab) and the Ammonites (through Ben-Ammi) with Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites.
Genesis 18: 22-33
What does this story teach us about Jehovah’s way of thinking? It is obvious that God did not need to consult Abraham to make the right decision. Now, he could have explained from the beginning the reasons why he had made that decision. But by letting him question it, he gave him time to accept the situation and to understand his way of looking at matters, as well as the magnitude of his compassion and justice. Certainly, Jehovah treated Abraham like a friend.
Genesis 18: 22-33
Why did Jehovah allow Abraham to speak to him so openly? First, because he realized that Abraham was distressed. He knew that his nephew Lot lived in Sodom, and that Abraham was concerned for his safety. In addition, Abraham was a friend of God. When a person speaks to us roughly, do we strive to understand their feelings and take them into consideration, especially if they are a friend who is under some emotional pressure? Isn’t it comforting to know that Jehovah will be understanding when we speak frankly as he was in the case of Abraham?
Genesis 18:25
Who is going to resurrect? Sometimes we can make our conversations turn to those who are going to resurrect or not, issues that may concern us, generate doubts or debates “that are nothing more than a waste of time” (w10 4/15). That is why Jehovah’s recommendation in this verse is to have the same faith as Abraham and to be convinced that Jehovah will do justice.
Genesis 19:26
How easy it is to let ourselves be disturbed by the world! Even some have returned to the world after meeting Jehovah! We must examine ourselves regularly to determine if our faith may be diverting from the things of the world. Application: Let’s reflect on how far we are from the world and its attitudes.
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